I-130 Part 1 - Petitioner Information Explained

Staring at a blank government form can feel like standing at the bottom of a mountain without a map. You know you need to climb it to get your spouse their green card, but the path looks steep and confusing.

Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) is the very first step in the marriage-based green card process. It is the foundation of your entire case. If this foundation is shaky, the whole application can come crumbling down in the form of delays, Requests for Evidence (RFEs), or even denials.

One of the most critical sections is I-130 Part 1. This is where you, the U.S. citizen or green card holder, tell the government exactly who you are. It sounds simple—after all, you know your own name and address!—but USCIS asks for specific details that trip up thousands of couples every year.

In this comprehensive i-130 guide, we will walk you through I-130 Part 1 step-by-step. We’ll explain what the government is really asking for, how to avoid common mistakes, and how to set your application up for success in 2026.

What is the I-130 Form?

Before we dive into Part 1, let’s zoom out for a second. The I-130 form is officially called the “Petition for Alien Relative.” Its purpose is to prove to the U.S. government that a valid relationship exists between a U.S. petitioner and a foreign beneficiary.

• The Petitioner: That’s you (assuming you are the U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder).
• The Beneficiary: That’s your spouse (the person seeking the green card).

When you file this form, you are asking the government to recognize your marriage as real. I-130 Part 1 is the section where you establish your identity and your status in the United States. Without proving you are a citizen or permanent resident, you cannot sponsor anyone.

I-130 vs I-130A - What’s the Difference?

Breaking Down I-130 Part 1: Relationship

The very first question in Part 1 asks about your relationship to the beneficiary.

1. Relationship to Beneficiary

If you are applying for your husband or wife, you will check the box for Spouse.

While this seems obvious, it establishes the legal category of your visa petition. If you are a U.S. citizen applying for a spouse, you are in the “Immediate Relative” category, which means there is no waitlist for a visa number. If you are a Green Card holder (LPR), the category is different (F2A).

Note for 2026: Processing times for Green Card holder spouses have fluctuated recently. Always check the current Visa Bulletin.

2. Child Parent Relationship (If applicable)

There is a question asking: “Did you gain permanent residence through adoption?” Most couples applying for marriage green cards will answer No here. You would only answer “Yes” if you are filing for a parent or child and adoption was involved in your own immigration history.

I-130 Part 1: Information About You (The Petitioner)

This is the largest section of Part 1. USCIS uses this data to run background checks on you and verify that you have the legal standing to sponsor an immigrant.

Your Full Name

You must list your current legal name.

• Scenario: Sarah Smith married Juan Garcia. She changed her name to Sarah Garcia on her marriage certificate but hasn’t updated her passport or Social Security card yet.
• What should Sarah do? She should use her new legal name (Sarah Garcia) on the form, but she must submit a copy of her marriage certificate as proof of the name change.

Other Names Used

This is where many people get an RFE (Request for Evidence). You must list all other names you have ever used. This includes:

• Maiden names.
• Names from previous marriages.
• Aliases or nicknames used on legal documents.

If you don’t disclose a previous name, and it pops up during a background check, USCIS may think you are hiding something.

City/Town of Birth

Be specific. Don’t just list the country. If you were born in a small village, list the village and the nearest province or state. This must match your birth certificate exactly.

Alien Registration Number (A-Number)

This is a common point of confusion in how to fill i-130.

• If you were born in the U.S.: You likely do not have an A-Number. You can leave this blank.
• If you are a Naturalized Citizen or Green Card Holder: You definitely have an A-Number. It is usually found on your Green Card or Certificate of Naturalization. It starts with an “A” followed by 7, 8, or 9 digits.

USCIS Online Account Number

If you have filed an application online in the past few years, you might have one of these. If you have never filed anything with USCIS online, or if you can’t find it, do not worry. You can leave this blank. It is not mandatory for a valid application.

Social Security Number

As the petitioner, you must provide your SSN. This is used for identity verification.

Your Marital Information

This section of I-130 Part 1 is critical for marriage-based cases. USCIS wants to ensure you are not practicing bigamy (being married to two people at once).

Current Marital Status

You should check Married.

Date of Current Marriage

This must match the date on your marriage certificate. A common mistake is writing the date of the wedding celebration instead of the legal registration date if they are different.

Place of Current Marriage

List the city and country where you were legally married.

Information About Prior Marriages

This is the most important part of the marital section. USCIS asks for the names of all your prior spouses and the dates those marriages ended.

• Why they ask: To prove your current marriage is valid, all previous marriages must be legally terminated (via divorce, annulment, or death).
• The Proof: For every prior spouse you list in Part 1, you must include a divorce decree or death certificate in your application package.
• Common Mistake: Forgetting to list a brief marriage from 20 years ago. Even if it only lasted a month, you must list it. If USCIS finds a marriage record you didn’t disclose, they will suspect fraud.

Information About Your Parents

Why does the government care about your parents?

1. Identity Verification: It helps distinguish you from other people with the same name.
2. Chain Migration Checks: To see if your parents have their own immigration files.

You need to provide:

• Full Name of Father and Mother.
• Date of Birth.
• Country of Birth.
• City/Town of Residence (if living).

Tip: If a parent is deceased, write “Deceased” in the city/town of residence field and put the year of death if the form allows, or simply “Deceased.”

Citizenship and Status Information

In the final section of Part 1, you must prove how you obtained your status.

If you are a U.S. Citizen:

You will select how you obtained citizenship:

• Birth in the United States: You will need to provide a copy of your Birth Certificate.
• Naturalization: You will need to provide your Naturalization Certificate number and date.
• Parents: If you became a citizen because your parents naturalized before you turned 18, you will select this option and provide your Certificate of Citizenship info.

If you are a Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder):

You will need to provide:

• Class of Admission (the code on your Green Card, e.g., IR1, CR1, F2A).
• Date of Admission (the “Resident Since” date on your card).
• City/Town and State of Admission (where you first entered the U.S. or where your adjustment was approved).

2026 Costs and Processing for the I-130

It is important to look at the current landscape in 2026.

Filing Fees

As of 2026, the filing fee for Form I-130 is $675 for paper filings. USCIS encourages online filing, which sometimes carries a slightly lower fee (check the official USCIS I-130 page for the most up-to-date fee schedule, as these can change).

Note: The fee you pay to USCIS is separate from the Greenbroad service fee.

Processing Times

Processing times vary heavily depending on whether you are a U.S. Citizen or a Green Card holder, and which Service Center handles your case.

• Spouses of U.S. Citizens: Average 10–14 months.
• Spouses of Green Card Holders: Timelines can be longer and are subject to visa availability.

USCIS Processing Times - Understanding Them

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Part 1

Even smart, careful people make mistakes on the i-130 form. Here are the top errors we see at Greenbroad:

1. Typos in Dates: Writing the day/month in the wrong order (USCIS uses MM/DD/YYYY).
2. Name Mismatches: Using “Jim” instead of “James” when the birth certificate says James. Always use the formal legal name.
3. Missing “N/A”: In the past, leaving fields blank was a problem. Modern online forms help with this, but if you file by paper, ensure you don’t leave required fields empty.
4. Incomplete Address History: Part 1 asks for your address history for the last five years. You cannot have gaps. If you moved on Jan 1st, your next address must start Jan 1st (or very close to it).
5. Wrong Status Checked: Green card holders accidentally checking “U.S. Citizen” creates a major legal headache.

Conclusion: Start Your Journey on Solid Ground

I-130 Part 1 may look like just a collection of names and dates, but it is the legal assertion of your right to sponsor your spouse. Every box you check and every line you fill out tells a story to the immigration officer reviewing your case.

When you are accurate, honest, and thorough, you make the officer’s job easy. And when you make the officer’s job easy, your application moves faster.

However, we understand that “easy” isn’t how most people describe government paperwork. The fear of making a simple mistake that costs months of time is real.

That is where Greenbroad comes in.

For a flat fee of $749, we turn the confusion of the I-130 and the green card process into a streamlined checklist.

• We help you fill out every section, including I-130 Part 1, correctly.
• We assemble your evidence package to prove your marriage is bona fide.
• We provide a complete review to catch errors before they reach USCIS.

Don’t let paperwork stand between you and your life together.

Get Started with Greenbroad Today

Disclaimer: I am not an attorney and this article is not legal advice. This content is for informational purposes only. Immigration laws and fees are subject to change. If your case involves criminal history, previous immigration violations, or complex legal issues, we recommend consulting with a qualified immigration attorney.